The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1887-03-17
The New South,

Of a quarter of century since YER
lily seems to have received bap-
tism from the spring that Ponce de
Leon sought three hundred years
ago, and to have renewed its youth |
and increased It's vigor.
King Cottonawas sumptuous,
but enervating and unprogresslve
monarch. His subjects, through
the associations Of generations, had
come to revere his hoary locks, and
to syield unquestioned obedience
to his mandates. The undivided
loyalty of the entire people was his.
The slightest croachment upon
his magnificent domain was viewed
with disfavor and even alarm by
his bind devoted subjects.
But the reign Of King Cotton is
over, and the traditions of his sway
have ceased to be observed by the
disenthralled people of the opulenl
realm oyer which he once was the
recognized potertate. His sceptre
was reed, and it has been broken.
Upon the throne of the venerable,
white haired sovereign has come
another ruler. Young and strong,
with closely knit sinews, he is a
leader that inspires courage and
commands obedience. Hedged by
no traditions, he holds the reins OF
power with a resolute dignity that
awakens loyalty and begets devo-
ton. The new governor Of the
new south is king iron.
The history of the southland un-
der the two leading, or governing
ideas, is strongly contrasted, and it
is not difficult to find the cause for
this changed condition of affairs.
In the olden days the employment
gave occasion for little exercise ex-
cept for the hands, and that only in
a single direction
In ante bellum times the raising
of cotton may be said to have con-
stituted the only business of the
southern states, and to send this
product to New England, receiving
cotton cloth in return, was consld-
cred excellent management. To
grow the raw material was all to
which that favored land aspired.
Its manufactures in any line, or in
all lines, were of comparative in
significance, and its industries were
all of the most primitive sort.
The condition of affairs has been
changed, and the near future will
see still greater digressions. There
is significance in the depths of
earth to which the old and the new
enterprises have extended. The old
scarcely penetrated the surface; the
new reaches to greater depths. So
the former current of business life
was shallow while the latter is
deep.
Iron rules now, and the surround
ing conditions are most suspicious
Iron is not jealous king, but lends
inspiration and impetus 10 all in
dustries, because OF mutually oil
interest. Iron has permeated and
vitalized the system Of the new
south within the past five years.
The mineral wealth Of the south
has scarcely been touched and its
extent is beyond computation. II
three coal fields Immediately sur
rounding Birmingham, Ala, &C
cording to estimates Of competent
biologists, there are more than for
ty billion tons of the black dia-
monds. This would admit o
an output of 100000 tons per day
for more than a thousand years
Buta6gures are inadequate to con
vey a just comprehension of the
magnitude of these coal deposits
Iron has most efficient ALLY il
tie coal of the south, which posses
es excellent coking qualities. From
1880 to 1885, Alabama increased
her product of pig iron by over TIVE
per cent; Virginia, during the same
period, bettered her record by ovel
four hundred per cent. and Tonnes
see showed gain of over one hun
dred 'er cent.
The statement of pig ire n ship
ped to the east during 1884, 1885,
and 1886, from the seven states,
Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, Ala
bama, Tennessee, Kentucky and
West Virginia show total Of 139,
7l2 tons in the last year, as against
99,05S for the preceding year, and
1926 for the first year.
And this has been accomplished
notwithstanding the fact that foun
dries and mills have sprung up il
large numbers throughout'th eisouth
New furnaces are now building a
Birmingham, Sheffield, South Pitts
burg and Chattanooga, and during
1887 the iron industries in that re
gion will move forward more rapid
ly than ever before.
The result is clear and inevita
BILE. Every line of manufacture
will advance, and the smoke from
furnace mills, foundries, manufac
turing establishments of every sor
will blend and be as a "pillar O
cloud" to lead the people of tn
new south out into the land o
promise into greater achievement
and more progressive thoughts ant
endeavors.
The reign of King Cotton is end
ed; the reign of King Iron 5ha
begun.-Railway Age.
For ose bleed get plenty of pow